Posts Tagged ‘fun’

Don’t you love baseball? I do! It defines the quintessential American summer.

Last night’s game between the Seattle Mariners and the Chicago White Sox is an example of how exciting it can be. Thirteen scoreless innings had fans on both sides anxious and longing. Each team came so close to runs home, and each time the team on base was left high and dry by the solid play of the opposing defense.

In my experience, a scoreless game can be tedious, slow, and sleep-inducing. Not this one. Each team gave their all and successfully held the blockade against the other, taking the game well past the standard. As each side took the bat, the anticipation of a score grew with the number of innings. And although the game was long in innings, time passed well in watching it.

Fourteen innings of tight, edge-of-your-seat action finally led to the demise of the Chi Sox. This was a hard fought battle on both sides—the pitching was strong with Felix Hernandez (career ERA 3.58) against Mark Buehrle (career ERA 3.79). Buehrle has five years major league experience over the young Hernandez, but the match-up was rigorous.

The clincher, of course, was Ken Griffey Jr’s only at bat for the whole game. In his inimitable way with that glimmer of magic he often carries, Griffey made the game-winning score. It truly was magic!

The baseball season is fast closing and football encroaches on nightly sports presentations. For me, there’s nothing like the ballpark, the smells of the concessions, the vendors in the stands, the Moose dancing and clapping, and the satisfaction of watching a well-played game. For this fan, the Mariners sure did deliver a fun one!